Provincial law says meeting minutes for the B.C. Ferry Authority must be open to anyone who asks to see them, but the agency refused this week to open them to the Tyee.
"That's just what I've been instructed," said Susan Lameye, an assistant to Cynthia Lukaitis, the vice president and corporate secretary for B.C. Ferry Services Inc..
Lukaitis had earlier approved access to the minutes, but in a phone message Lameye said, "Apparently you won't be able to review the minutes for at least another week." That would push the release to at least two days after the May 12 provincial election.
Liberal Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, who is running for re-election in Surrey-Cloverdale, said the law clearly says the minutes should be available and he did not know why B.C. Ferries would refuse access to them.
The Authority became contentious a year ago when the NDP raised questions in the legislature about board members giving themselves a raise despite records showing many meetings were very short. Minutes for one meeting, for example, show each member received a $750 stipend for a 20-minute conference call.
The NDP also had difficulty getting the Authority's meeting minutes, said the party's ferries critic and North Coast incumbent Gary Coons.
"We had to go down to the office and wait while they were xeroxed and go through a lot of hoops to get to the information," he said. "We just think that B.C. Ferries should be more accessible, especially because it's taxpayer money, and the single voting share is held by the Minister of Transportation."
The NDP promised in its election platform to bring B.C. Ferries under closer government control.
Falcon said B.C. Ferries has enough oversight. "I think the ultimate accountability for the public is two things: one, how the corporation is being operated, which I think can be seen from the level of service being provided, and two, how the corporation is doing financially."
The B.C. government spends some $150 million a year on B.C. Ferries.
The government created the Authority in 2003 when it converted B.C. Ferries from a crown corporation to a private, government-owned company. The company itself is not required to release information and is exempt from freedom of information laws, but the Coastal Ferries Act requires the Authority to release various records to the public on request.
Kat Eschner reports from Victoria.
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freebear
3 years ago
Maybe a $500.00 a plate dinner will help!
A juicy campaign donation might grease the wheels of Ferrydom!
Grumpy
3 years ago
Rumour, rumour......
...... der Deutch zitrones, are pigs on fuel and are costing a whole lot more to operate than was planned. Middle management want them mothballed and cancel the sale of older boats, but Herr Admiral Gordo will have none of that.
Now disprove that Hahn, Falcon, Gordo - open the books!
timothymoorley
3 years ago
how does this trump Faked Medical results
Well I understand that there are many many issues during an election. I also requested some FOI documents regarding my accusation of a intentionally misread HEART test. Today my response was they wouldnt release the documents until June 23. They have had the request for the 30 day normal period. It is clear there is something there they dont want anyone to see until after the vote.
I have provided the TYEE with documents that support the accusation but I continue to wait for some response. My documents are FACTUAL.
This concerns everysingle person in the province if not the Country.
I am confident in my statements and encourage anyone to show me I am wrong.
WHAT
3 years ago
Taken a quess at the strategy of not releasing the info
till after the election, someone is trying hard to not make this a landslide...cause if the facts about this and the BC Rail Investment fund et al come out...wow! There will be more news it's like watching a soap opera,,,can't look away it's the climax....(oh damn a commercial!)
Happy watching everyone...If this isn't the makings for a reality spoof show, I don't know what is?
RossK
3 years ago
Mr. Falcon said....
"I think the ultimate accountability for the public is two things: one, how the corporation is being operated, which I think can be seen from the level of service being provided, and two, how the corporation is doing financially."
Whew.
I feel much better now.
Why?
Because, at least the Transportation Minister didn't say....
"The only thing that matters is whether the trains....errrrr....the ferries run on time."
Sheesh.
.
Rod Smelser
3 years ago
der Deutch zitrones
"...... der Deutch zitrones, are pigs on fuel and are costing a whole lot more to operate than was planned."
Would that be a reference to the Coastal class vessels? Rumour has it that these imports may be renamed Otto Von Bismarck, Premier Campbell, and President Hahn.
G West
3 years ago
Now what was that statement by the CEO
You know the one about openness and accountability?
Wake up people, you've been had.
Grumpy
3 years ago
Dead right Rod
As I know several ferry types, the rumours that the der Deutch zitrones only operate at a profit when loadings exceed 70%. The older boats can operate at a profit when loadings are less than 50%.
Except for summer runs, middle management want these boats tied up.
Watch for fare increase May 13!